KNOLLYS. 495 manded to preach no more, he told them, that he would preach the gospel, both publicly and from house to house ; saying, " It is more equal to obey Christ who commandeth me, than men who forbid me ;" and so went his way, and ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ and him crucified. The displeasure of the presbyterians against Mr. Knollys, at this time, seems to have been occasioned chiefly by a letter whichhe wrote to a friend in Norwich, containing some sharp butjust reflections on the proceedings ofthe London ministers against toleration. This letter, by some means, came into thehands of the Suffolk committee, who sent it up to London, .. where it was published It is dated London, the 15th of the 11th month, called January, 1645,and addressed " to his beloved brother, Mr. John Dutton in Norwich," of which the following is a copy :i- " Beloved Brother, I salute you in the Lord. " Your letter I received the last day of the week, and upon the first day I did salute the brethren in your name, whore-salute you, and pray for you. The city presby- terians have sent a letter to the synod, dated from Zion college, against any toleration ; and they are fasting and pray- ing at Zion college this day about' further contrivings against God's poor innocent ones ; 'but God will doubtless answer them according to the idol of their own hearts. To-morrow there is a fast kept by both houses and the synod at West- minster. They say it is to seek God about the establishing of worship according to their covenant. They have first vowed, now they make inquiry. God will certainly take the crafty in their own snare, and make the wisdom of the wise foolishness ; for he chooseth the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, and weak things to confound the mighty. My wife and family remember their love to you. Salute the brethren that are with you. Farewell : " Your brother in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, " HANSERD KNOLLYS." When Mr. Knollys quitted the army, he returned to his employment of teaching school, from whence he derived the principal means of his support. The allowance he received from the church, on account of the poverty of its members, was only trifling : " but," says he, I coveted no man's silver or gold, but chose rather to labour, knowing it is more blessed to give than to receive." He, accordingly, gave Crosby's Baptists, vol. i. p. 111. t Edwards's Contralto, part fii. p, watarxk4anium7etE
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